South Western Sydney Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP)

This service program provides short-term/crisis accommodation to homeless children and young people from 12 to 15 years old, with the aim of returning children home within three months, where appropriate.

The service delivers trauma-informed, strengths-based casework to support family restoration by working with the family to assess needs and coordinate a therapeutic case plan. It will help young people access therapeutic support in partnerships with other services or within this service.

It supports young people to continue to access education and training and ensures that intensive and integrated support with specialist services (such as mental health, drug and alcohol, trauma counselling) is facilitated with the young person. Referrals are also provided with sources such as other government and non-government organisations, family members or other individuals in the community.

Strong partnerships with a range of agencies are established such as Reconnect, Youth Hope and Headspace to assist young people establish the most appropriate referral pathway, assessment and to provide an enhanced response for the young person and their family.

This service has a strong focus on responses for Aboriginal young people and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.